Adam and Eve After the Fall.
From the bronze doors of Hildesheim Cathedral, completed in 1015.

The Dark Ages
Early scholars gave the name "Dark Ages" to the period in Europe
after the fall of the Roman Empire. During this period, barbarian
Goths, Vandals, and Huns swept down on Europe from the north and
east. They destroyed many fine buildings and works of art that had
existed during Roman times. During the Dark Ages, knowledge survived
only in monasteries, and there were very few schools. Many of the
old arts and crafts were lost. This is why the time was called the
"Dark Ages."

The eastern Roman Empire was not conquered by the
barbarians. There, the arts still flourished. People were still
thinking and making fine works of art in other parts of the world.
In China and India, great civilizations grew and spread. In the
1000s, Europe began to slowly recover from its artistic darkness.
The lost knowledge of the ancient Greeks and Romans was found again.
There was a new interest in learning, and the richer life of the
Middle Ages began.

Scene from the Bayeux Tapestry 1066.
The tapestry is the historical record of William the Conqueror.
Sewn, not woven. 230 ft. (70m) long; 72 scenes in Latin.Click the tapestry scene above to view
the entire Bayeux Tapestry.
A 14th-century genealogical tree of William the Conqueror and his
Norman successors.

The Age of Feudalism
During the Dark Ages many changes took place.

Less writing, education, trade (called the Dark Ages)

Political fragmentation. There were many leaders. The kings had
less power because countries were divided into areas controlled
by feudal lords. There were many barbaric tribes.

German political traditions differed - People were
loyal to a tribe, not to a country. German legal traditions differed
- They had laws for individual tribes. German cultural traditions
- They had no written literature, and runes were used for monuments.

The Church preserved ancient writings and Biblical writings. The
Christian Church helped unify people of Europe because of its centralized
authority and hierarchical nature. The Church unified the people
because it was the only constant.